In a bid to stop principals and schools from extorting money from parents for practicals during West African Examination Council, WAEC, Senior Secondary School Examination, SSCE, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has distributed science equipment and practical materials to 247 schools in the state.

The governor also distributed funds to all the 247 secondary schools to empower them to purchase perishable consumables for the science practicals during the SSCE.

Making the presentation to school principals at the weekend, Governor Wike said that with the distribution of the science equipment and materials for practicals, school principals have no reason to charge illegal levies of any kind to indigent students in public schools.

Represented by the Chairman of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board,Chief David Briggs, the governor directed that all Science practical Materials for 2015/2016 WAEC remain free for Every Students to Use and no Principal should surchargr any Student for the Practical Materials Which is provided free and at no Cost for Rivers People.

The governor said: "This is a proof of my commitment to a functional educational system where no child is denied the opportunity of writing the SSCE simply because they are from less privileged background.

"The funds that will be released to the schools are meant to ensure that they buy consumables required for the SSCE science practicals. No Principal should on any account levy any student for the purchase of perishable consumables for science practicals ".

Responding, Mrs- Leyiga Ebeh Charity, Principal of CSS Rumuapara in Obio/Akpor LGA commended Governor Wike for taking into consideration the plight of the less privileged by distributing the science equipment and practical materials.

Also speaking, Mr Kuete Teekaa, Principal of GGSS Koroma Tai said with the distribution of the science equipment backed by funds for perishables used in SSCE science practicals, there is no excuse left for any principal to indulge in charging illegal levies for SSCE .​Simeon Nwakaudu,Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.3rd April, 2016.